Savantas E-Newsletter - December 2021

03 January ,2022


From the Editor


Savantas Policy Institute (SPI) was established 15 years ago, on 15 July 2006, from today. To commemorate the 15th anniversary of SPI, the websites of SPI and Savantas Liberal Arts Academy (SLAA) have undergone major revisions. Apart from security improvements, there are enhancements in user experience as well. At the same time, SPI has especially produced a 15th anniversary commemorative publication to review its development in the past 15 years. You are welcomed to collect a copy of the publication in person after the New Year.

With easing of the Covid-19 pandemic in Hong Kong in the second half of 2021, SPI and SLAA have proactively launched various activities and developed researches. On the part of SPI, I gave presentations on 28 August and 26 September respectively to the “Civil Servants and Subvented Organisations Affairs Committee” and “Seminar on Development and Challenges in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Electrical and Mechanical Sector” of The Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions to introduce the “Belt and Road Initiative” and the “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA)”. On 20 September, SPI and its sister organization, Maritime Silk Road Society (MSRS) jointly invited Dr. Johnny HON, Chairman Emeritus of Global Group, Vice President of New People’s Party and Honorary Advisor of MSRS to speak at the seminar on “Exploring Future Opportunities”. On 20 November, Mr. KAM Man Fung, Policy Officer of SPI, took part in the “Farewell to Sub-divided Units Debate” on Phoenix TV to discuss Hong Kong’s housing issues.

In the area of policy research, under the direction of SPI Development Advisor Mr. Terence TONG, two interns, Ms. LEUNG Hoi Ki and Ms. Madison FION, finished a research report on community parks titled “Initial Proposals on Integrating Creative Themes for Community Parks” (Chinese text only) on 25 August.

On the part of SLAA, apart from Chinese calligraphy lessons every Thursday night, an eight-session “GBA Putonghua Immersion” course, which lasted ten weeks, was launched from 1 September to 3 November. This course allowed participants to increase their interest to study Putonghua through understanding and experiencing living, learning, touring, current affairs etc. in the GBA under a totally Putonghua environment at the direction of seasoned Putonghua instructor Ms. TSANG Chi Ping. On 12 October, I hosted an webinar titled “Can Hong Kong achieve ‘common prosperity’?” together with Mr. KWOK Yat Ming, Vice Chairman of Hong Kong Federation of Journalists. On 8 December, SLAA organized an onsite and online seminar titled “Heroic Deeds in the Desert – Northern Chinese Bronze Dagger Appreciation”. We were honoured to be able to invite Mr. TSEUNG Pak Long, Chairman of Institute of Hong Kong Underwater Archaeology Research and Vice President of The Association of Chinese Culture of Hong Kong, as the guest speaker of the seminar. We were also grateful to Dr. S.C. TANG who lent us 17 ancient bronze daggers dating back to the Western Zhou Dynasty from his personal collection for participants to have a look at close range. There were many enthusiastic participants both onsite and online.

On the other hand, the 6th to 12th lectures of SLAA’s Public Policy Study Programme Summer 2021 were held on Saturday afternoons from 3 July to 14 August. Professor Joe C.B. LEUNG, Honorary Professor, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong talked on “Social Security and Welfare”; Mr. Joseph YAM, member of the Executive Council and former Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority spoke on "The Status of Hong Kong as an International Financial Centre"; Dr FANG Zhou, Research Director of the One Country Two Systems Research Institute, was the speaker at the lecture titled "The Development of the Greater Bay Area”; Professor YANG Yongheng, School of Public Policy & Management, Tsinghua University and Executive Associate Dean of China Institute for Development Planning, Tsinghua University was the guest speaker on "Understanding The 14th Five-Year Plan of China”; Professor LAM Wai Fung, Department of Politics and Public Administration, The University of Hong Kong, spoke on " Social Innovation for Sustainable Society”; Mr Stephen LAW, Managing Director of ANS Capital Limited gave the lecture on “Financial Services and Fintech”; and Ms. Maria TAM, Deputy Director, HKSAR Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, was the speaker for the lecture titled “The Basic Law - Original Intent and Fundamental Principles”.

We are planning GBA-related activities. We hope that the pandemic will fade away in the coming year so that all the events being planned can be carried out in an orderly manner. On behalf of all of us at SPI and SLAA, I wish everyone a happy new year and a peaceful and joyful Year of the Tiger!

Alex Wong

Policy Director

Savantas Policy Institute



SLAA Public Policy Study Programme Summer 2021

The 6th to 12th lectures of SLAA's Public Policy Study Programme Summer 2021 were held on Saturday afternoons from 3 July to 14 August.

Lecture 6 : Social Security and Welfare

Guest Speaker : Professor Joe C.B. Leung

Lecture 7 : The Status of Hong Kong as an International Financial Centre

Guest Speaker : Mr Joseph Yam

Lecture 8 : The Development of the Greater Bay Area

Guest Speaker : Dr Fang Zhou

Lecture 9 : The 14th Five-Year Plan (presentation through online format)

Guest Speaker : Professor Yang Yongheng

Lecture 10 : Social Innovation for Sustainable Society

Guest Speaker : Professor Lam Wai Fung

Lecture 11 : Financial Services and Fintech

Guest Speaker : Mr Stephen Law

Lecture 12 : The Basic Law – Original Intent and Fundamental Principles

Guest Speaker : Ms Maria Tam




“Belt and Road and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area” National Studies Seminar

On 28 August 2021, upon the invitation of The Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions, Mr. Alex Wong, Policy Director of Savantas Policy Institute cum Chief Executive Officer of Maritime Silk Road Society gave a presentation to participants from the Federation’s “Civil Servants & Subsidized Organizations Committee” at the “Belt and Road and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area” National Studies Seminar.



“GBA Putonghua Immersion”

From 1 September to 27 October 2021, on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00PM, Savantas Liberal Arts Academy has launched a nine-week (totally 8 weekly Lectures, no class on 22 September due to public holiday) event called “GBA Putonghua Immersion” which allows participants to immerse in a Putonghua-only environment and, through different kinds of activity, comprehend and experience the various living, working, studying, traveling and current affairs aspects of the Greater Bay Area. The objective is to provide participants with an atmosphere to speak Putonghua and increase their interest to learn Putonghua.




“Exploring Future Opportunities” Seminar

The “Exploring Future Opportunities” seminar co-organized by Savantas Policy Institute (SPI) and Maritime Silk Road Society (MSRS) was held in Hong Kong Art in Wan Chai on 20 September.  Mrs. Regina Ip, Chairperson of SPI, Co-Chair of MSRS, President of New People’s Party and LegCo Member, delivered a welcome speech.  Dr. Johnny Hon, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Global Group, Honorary Advisor of MSRS, and Vice President of New People’s Party, was the speaker of the seminar.



“Development & Opportunities: Electrical and Mechanical industries in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA)”

On 26 September 2021, upon the invitation of The Federation of Hong Kong Electrical & Mechanical Industries Trade Unions, Mr Alex Wong, Policy Director of Savantas Policy Institute gave a presentation on “Development & Opportunities: Electrical and Mechanical industries in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA)”.



Seminar on [ Can Hong Kong Achieve "Common Prosperity"] ?

The seminar “Can Hong Kong achieve ‘common prosperity’?” organized by Savantas Liberal Arts Academy was held on 12 October. It was planned to be an onsite and online event, but had to be held online only due to the hoisting of No. 8 typhoon warning signal in the afternoon. Mr. Alex Wong, Policy Director of Savantas Policy Institute was the host of the seminar. Mr. Kwok Yat Ming, Vice Chairman of Hong Kong Federation of Journalists, joined as the guest host.



"Farewell to Sub-divided Units Debate" on Phoenix TV

On 20 November 2021, Mr. Kam Man Fung, Policy Officer of Savantas Policy Institute attended the programme "Farewell to Sub-divided Units Debate" on Phoenix TV to discuss Hong Kong's housing issues.



“Heroic Deeds in the Desert – Northern Chinese Bronze Dagger Appreciation” Onsite and Online Seminar

The “Heroic Deeds in the Desert – Northern Chinese Bronze Dagger Appreciation” onsite and online seminar organized by Savantas Liberal Arts Academy was held on 8 December 2021. Mr Tseung Pak Long, Chairman of Institute of Hong Kong Underwater Archaeology Research and Vice President of The Association of Chinese Culture of Hong Kong, was the guest speaker of the seminar. He introduced the history and characteristics of the Northern Chinese bronze series and displayed some Northern Chinese bronze daggers, from Dr S.C. Tang’s collection. Participants were excited to have a close look at the ancient daggers.




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